Fabricated bearing or pillow block for shafts



G. G. HAMILToN.

FABRICATED BEARING 0R PILLOW BLOCK FOR SHAFTS Filed July 3Q. 1946 v April 5, 1949.

gw/lum Ill-lllllil UMA j llll Patented Apr. 5, 1949 FABRICATED BEARING OR- PILLOW BLOCK FOR SHAFTS George G. Hamilton, Maplewood, N. `.I ApplicationJnly 30,"1946,"Seria1 No. 687,104

4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in shaft bearings, pillow `blocks* or the like.

The invention has Lfor an object `to provide a novel constructionof fabricated bea-ringor pillow block for shafts of given diametric size whic-h is of' very simple and economical structure, and which comprises an assembly lof elements certain of which are exchangeable `whereby to permit variation ofthe length of the bearing or pilloW block, as may, in any givencase be desired.

The invention has for another object toprovide a novel constructionof-fabricated'bearing or pillow block--forshafts `which is compact in form so as to occupy but a minimum of room when inpla-ce, and Whichcan be easily sizedto `accommodate the same for-occupationof cramped orv limited space, and which-is relatively light inweight.

A further object of the invention'isto providea novel fabricated'shaft bearingo-r pillowblock comprisinga'pair of end members and an intermediate tubular spacing'element or sleeve which is adapted to be interlockinglyengaged between said end members, whereby -to space vthelatterl so as to provide a-bearing of desiredlength-said spacing element or sleeve being adapted to provide housing for bearing means, such e. g. as an anti-friction bearing member ormembers; means being further provided for strongly uniting and securing said end-membersfand sleeve together in operative assembled relation'l Other objects `ofthis invention; not at this time more particularly enumerated,v .will be understood from the following detailed description of the same.

An illustrative embodiment of Ythis invention is shown in the `accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the -vshaft bearing or pillow block -rnade accordingto this invention; Fig. 2 is an end'elevational viewof the same, viewed fromthe right in Fig. 1; Fig, 3 is a longitudinal sectional lview. ofthe bearing or pillow block; and Figml is a transverse sectional View of the same, taken on-line 4-4 in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5-is a longitudinal sectionalview of the bearing or pillow block with the parts thereof disassembled.

Similar characters of reference are employed inthe above described views, to indicate corresponding part-s.

Referring tothe drawings,-the'bearingor pillowblock according l to fthis invention comprises a `pair of transverse upstandingxendmembers which forfconvenience of identication are herein denominated a forward endmember lll and al rearward end .member II.

Each said end member may be made of suitable fcast or machined metal, ordinarilya ferrous metalr. andy is `suitably dimensioned in height and width according to the diameter of shaft desired to be served by the bearing or pillow bloclnand is of substantial thicknessybeing provided vwith a suitably sized passage Ill for the extension therethrough of the shaft I5 served by. the bearingvor pillow block. At` the bottom end,:

each said'end member is provided with laterally projecting foot pieces t I2, yrespectively .projectingfrom its opposite sides. Said foot'lpieces are drilled to provide vertical passages I3 lfor the reception 4of hold down` bolts.. (not shown), whereby the bearingor pillow block may beA xed in place of use.

Provided inthe inner or vrearward face portion oiV the bearing4 :member I!) is-an` annular. channel orseatng groove vlli `whiclris disposed concentric tothe axis ofthe shaft passage lli ofY said member. Said channel orseating groove vI6 is of substantially greater diameter thanthatof said passage .I 4, In [like .mannen provided `in the inner or forwardface portionvof the bearingh member I I is a correspondinglysized and 4located annular channel. vorseating groove AIl..-

The saidy bearing members .are -longitudinally spaced apart, with. their shaft passages I4 in axial alignment,y by a tubular spacing elementor sleeve I8, the respective end portionsof which are entered; inthe respective channels or seating grooves I5 and I'I of the opposedbearing end members r I0 and II, thus interlockingly engaging the same with and between end members. Said tubular spacing element or sleeve I8 `may be selectively variedin length according-to the total length of shaft bearing or pillow block ydesired to be provided.

The interior of said tubular spacing element or sleeve Iiprovides a fhousing for'shaft bearing means of any suitable character.. Preferably said shaft bearing means is of vananti-friction type. For example,` as shown, vsaid shaft bearing means comprises one or more ball-bearing sets -3ll,` the outer race or races 3l offwhichbeing fixed by a press lit to the'interior surface of said spacing element or sleeve It),I while the inner race or races 32 of which being'fixed'by a press fit to the exv terior surface of the shaft l5.`

The forward endinember-IO is provided with a plurality `of tie-bolt passagesy I9 extending through the' thicknessfthereofgl and :preferably counterbored at their outer ends; said passages being circumferentially spaced apart in radially outward oiset relation to the channel or seating groove I6 of said forward end member. Similarly, the rearward end member II is also provided with a plurality of internally screwthreaded tie-bolt receiving openings 20, which are correspondingly circumferentially spaced apart in radially outward offset relation to the channel or seating groove I'I of 'said rearward end member.

After the end members I and II and the intermediate tubular spacing element or sleeve I8 and anti-friction bearings have been assembled in the manner and relation above stated, tiebolts 2I are passed through aligned passages I9 and into openings 20 of said end members, so that the screw-threaded ends 22 of said tie-bolts are screwed into said openings 20 until the heads 23 of said tie-bolts are entered in the counterbored portions of said passages I9. Said tie bolts 2I pass from end member to end member exteriorly of the tubular spacing element or sleeve I8, and, when tightened home, serve to very securely bind said end members and element or sleeve I 8 in operative assembled relation, so as to thereby form the unitary shaft bearing or pillow block structure.

It will be understood from an inspection of the drawings that the shaft I5 bridges between the spaced forward and rearward end members I0 and Il, with the intermediate portion of said shaft journaled in the ball-bearing sets 30. If desired, space within the element or sleeve I8 adjacent the ball-bearing sets may be utilized to provide a chamber 24, which is adapted to serve as a lubricant packing or holding space, which may be charged with a suitable lubricating substance, such e. g. as a grease. To admt'the lubricant into said chamber 24, the tubular element or sleeve I8 may be provided with anyv suitable form of valved lubricant admission device 25, which is adapted to be secured thereto in exterior projection therefrom, but in communication with said chamber 24. e n If desired, the surfaces of the shaft passages I4 of said end members Ill and II may be provided with a plurality of axially spaced annular sealing grooves or channels 26, whereby to seal lubricant relativeto the shaft I5, and in this connection any suitable Aform of sealing means or ring (not shown) may be associated therewith.l

" The tubular element or vsleevels maybe fixed' against rotative shiftor displacement relative toV the end members I0 and II with which it is assembled; this being especially desirable when said element or sleeve is provided with a lubricant admission device 25, so that the location of the latter may be fixed. To so secure said tubular element or sleeve I8, a dowel pin 21 is passed through one of the end members, as e. g. the forward end member I0, and into the body of the adjacent end portion of said tubular element or sleeve. Although not shown, a similar dowel pin may alaso be passed through the end member I I and into the adjoining end portion of said tubular element or sleeve I8, if so desired.

If desired, the shaft passage I4 of the rearward end member II may be of reduced diameter to receive a reduced end portion I5' of the shaft I 5. The juncture of the main body of the shaft I5 and its reduced end portion I5 provides a shoulder I5" which is opposed to the inner face portion of the end member I I.

The novel shaft bearing or pillow block according to my invention is for comparable bulk of considerably less weight than the ordinary cast bearing or pillow block. By reason of its light weight, but nevertheless ecient bearing support, the bearing or pillow block of this invention is especially well adapted for use in places where minimum weight is to be considered, such e. g. as in aeroplane construction. Furthermore, since the tubular spacing element or sleeve I8 may be provided ofany selected length, it is very easy to fabricate the bearing or pillow block of any desired overall length.

AHaving now described my invention, I claim:

'1.' A fabricated pillow block formed by three main parts comprising longitudinally spaced and opposed transverse upstanding end members having aligned passages for the extension of a shaft therethrough, and a tubular spacing element of selected length extending between said end members; said tubular element being adapted to support anti-friction shaft bearing means intermediate said end members; said end members having annular seating grooves in their inner faces concentric to the axes of said shaft passages thereof, the ends of said tubular spacing element being mortised in said grooves, means to secure the assembled end members and tubular spacing element together so as to form thereby a unitary pillow block structure, and said end memported by and within said tubular spacing element intermediate said end members; said end members having annular seating grooves in their inner faces concentric to the axis of the shaft passages of said end members, the ends of saidcure the assembled end members and tubularA spacing element together so as tolform thereby a unitary pillow block structure, and said end members having laterallyprojecting perforate foot4 piecesengageable by means to fix the pillow block' structure in place of use;

3. A fabricated pillow block as defined in claim 2 wherein said tubular spacing element defines an annular chamber around the shaft, and means for introducing lubricating substance into said chamber.

4. A fabricated pillow block formed by three main parts comprising longitudinally spaced and opposed transverse upstanding end members having aligned passages for the extension of a shaft therethrough sized to correspond to the diameter of the shaft, and a tubular spacing element of selected length extending between said end members; a pair of longitudinally spaced anti-friction shaft bearing means supported by and within said tubular spacing element intermediate said end members; said end members having annular seating grooves in their inner faces concentric to the axis of the shaft passages of said end members, the ends of said tubular spacing element being mortised in said grooves, a plurality of tie-bolts engaged with and extending between said end members exterorly of said tubular spacing element whereby to secure the assembled end members and tubular spacing element together so as to form thereby a unitary pillow block structure, said end members having laterally projecting perforate foot pieces engageable by means to x the pillow block structure in place of use; said tubular spacing element being adapted to define an annular chamber around the shaft and intermediate the spaced shaft bearing means, means for introducing lubricating substance into said chamber; and the walls of the shaft passages of said end members being provided with axially spaced annular sealing means.

GEORGE G. HAMILTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,699,330 Gayman 1-5, 1922 FOREIGN PATENTS 1 Number Country Date 52,971 Sweden Apr. 30, 1919 491.613 France June 10, 1919 

